Moving
Through March
By Sandy Fleming
"In like a lion,
out like a lamb!" How
accurate is that old bit of folk wisdom? Try
keeping a weather diary for the first and last week of March
to
see if it's true this year. This month is usually full of changeable
weather, but it is predictable in that there are lots of fun
and educational
happenings! You can celebrate reading, nutrition, women's history,
and youth
art this month, and even umbrellas! Did you know that another
name for an
umbrella is a "bumpershoot"? Try making a collection
of unusual words during
the month. How many can your children discover that will stump
adults?
There are loads of fun
events on the calendar this month as well. One of
the most exciting is Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2. Why not
have a Dr.
Seuss festival at your house or classroom? Green eggs and ham
are easy to
make with just a little food coloring. How many other "Seussified" foods
can
you find? Many of Seuss's books were written with beginning readers
in mind,
but he also authored several books with very few rhymes. Check
out The
King's Stilts and Horton Hears a Who. Older kids may enjoy a
Dr. Seuss
trivia contest or game. Search as many Seuss books as you can
find and put
questions on cards. Who can answer the most?
Five states were born
in March (Ohio, Nebraska, Florida, Vermont, and Maine).
Send older kids on a hunt to discover which ones were formed
in
March.
Alexander Graham Bell
was born on March 3, 1847. Find out just what he
invented at the library or in an encyclopedia. Now, pretend that
he was
never born. Write a story about how life would be different if
all of these
inventions were suddenly taken away from us. Harriet Tubman Day
is
celebrated on March 10. Find out what was special about this
great lady.
March 15 is often called
the Ides of March. Julius Caesar was assassinated
on this date in 44 B.C. Use this as a springboard to learn about
Roman
mythology! Kids often find these stories fascinating, and your
local library
will have many versions suitable for a range of reading levels.
Don't forget the leprechauns
on March 17; why not splurge for some toy or
candy coins and go on a hunt for "gold" today? Randolph
Caldecott was born
on March 22, 1846. He was an English illustrator. Even today,
picture
books can win the Caldecott Award for excellent quality. Find
some Caldecott
Award-winning books at the library and read them today. Later,
have your own
illustration awards. Have the kids choose books with excellent
illustrations
and write down why they think the books deserve an award. Judge
entries
based on how well the nomination was written and defended.
The last week of March
is Sleep Awareness Week. Try keeping a dream diary
for each night. Keep a pad of paper and a pencil by the bed and
have
children write down what they remember of their dreams before
they get up
each morning. Can they see any connection to their waking lives?
Any
symbols? Any recurring themes? Check on the Internet or in the
library for a
book of dream interpretation if you want to extend the fun.
Sandy Fleming
is an educator, author and workshop facilitator. She resides
in southern Michigan with her husband and three daughters.
Sandy leads workshops for daycare providers and parents
in the region, tutors students, volunteers for Girl Scouts
and her church, and teaches online classes for adults and
children. She loves to make new friends, so please drop
her an e-mail at kids@busyparentsonline.com
